Three Arrested as Puri Police Bust Mule Bank Account Racket Linked to Cyber Fraud

Puri: In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, Puri Police have busted a mule bank account racket and arrested three persons allegedly involved in operating a cyber fraud network under the name of a company, “Speeding Exim Pvt. Ltd.”

According to a press release issued by the Cyber Police Station, Puri, the arrests were made during a special “Mule Account Drive” launched to curb cybercrime and financial fraud in the district. During the operation, police detected several fraudulent bank accounts that were allegedly used to route illegal money generated through cyber fraud activities.

A case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station, Puri, under CC & EO PS Case No. 11/2026 dated March 5, 2026, under sections 318(4), 336(2), 111(3), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

During the investigation, police found that the accused allegedly lured innocent people with small monetary incentives and collected their bank accounts, ATM cards and SIM cards. These accounts were later used as mule accounts to transfer and route money obtained through cyber fraud operations.

Investigators also revealed that the accused had floated a company named “Speeding Exim Pvt. Ltd.”, which was allegedly used as a front to run the illegal financial network. Through multiple mule accounts linked to the company, large-scale financial transactions were reportedly carried out.

Preliminary findings suggest that nearly ₹1 crore worth of illegal transactions were facilitated through these mule accounts. Police said the investigation is still underway and efforts are being intensified to identify other individuals and networks connected with the racket.

The arrested persons have been identified as Ahmed Topan and Abdul Kalam Azad, residents of Arulpuram village under Veerapandi in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu; Abdul Aziz Sheikh (38), son of Abdul Kalam Sheikh of Amitya village under Benipur in West Bengal; and Sushant Kumar Parida, son of Birendra Kumar Parida of Sobharampur village under Town Police Station limits in Balasore district of Odisha.

During the operation, police seized 15 ATM cards, six SIM cards, seven mobile phones and seven cheque books. Several documents related to the company “Speeding Exim Pvt. Ltd.” were also recovered during the investigation.

Police sources said that earlier seven cases related to mule bank accounts had already been registered at the Cyber Police Station in Puri. With this latest operation, the total number of such cases has increased to ten.

Puri Police have urged the public not to share their bank accounts, ATM cards or SIM cards with unknown persons in exchange for money or any inducement, warning that such actions may lead to serious legal consequences. Citizens have also been advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious cyber activity to the police immediately.